Side curtain for carriages



2 (No Model.)

J. K. POWERS.

SIDE CURTAIN FORIGARRIAGES.

No. 258,252. Patented May 23, L882.

N4 PETERS, Photo-Lithographen Washin ton. a. c

UNITED STATES JAMES K. POWERS, OF ATLANTIC, IOWA.

2. 'SIDE CURTAIN FOR CARRIAGES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 258,252, dated May 23, 1882.

Application filed November 3, 1881. (No model.)

10 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES K. POWERS, of Atlantic, in the county of Cass and State of Iowa, havcinvented an Improvement in Buggy and Carriage Tops, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to facilitate the unlocking and letting down and raising and locking. of a folding top without; getting out of a vehicle or putting an arm outside of the curtains to reach and bend the joints of top-props, as heretofore required to raise and lower a folding buggy or carriage top.

It consists in forming an opening in a side curtain and attaching a flap thereto, as hereinafter fully set forth, and in such a manner as to adapt the curtains to be used on folding. tops without preventing the driver, while on the seat, from reaching and operating the jointed top-props, as required to bend them backward to unlock and lower the top and forward to make them rigid when the top is elevated.

Figure 1 of my accompanying drawings is a side view of a buggy-top having my improved side curtains attached. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the same top, showing parts of the quartercurtains and sections of the side curtains removed. Together these figures clearly illustrate the construction, operation, and utility of my invention.

a represents an oblong aperture formed in the central portion of a side curtain, and in such a position relative to the joint of a topprop that a person on the inside of the curtain can readily extend one or more fingers through the aperture, as shown in Fig. 2, and press 'upon the top-prop at or near its stiif back joint to push it forward, as required to make it rigid, or backward, as required to relax it preparatory to letting a top down. The form and size of the aperture may vary as desired, and its edges may be hemmed or bound and finished in any suitable style of art.

1) represents a flap hinged to the outside of the curtain and the top edge of the aperture a by stitching it fast, or in any suitable way. in such a manner that it will in its normal condition depend over the aperture and close it, as required to exclude wind and rain. It is preferably made of the same kind of material that the curtain is composed of, and large enough to overlap the edges of the aperture.

'Its edges are also hemmed, bound, or finished in any suitable way.

In the practical use of my improved side curtains I apply them to the top of a buggy or carriage, in the ordinary manner, by means of common fastening devices.

To accomplish the specific results contemplated by my improvement I simply reach outward with my fingers through the apertures a, as shown in Fig. 2, and push thehinged flaps b upward and out of the way to allow me to place my fingers upon the contiguous top-props that extend vertically and diagonally across the apertures, and then press the props rearward to bend and unlock the prop-joints when I want to lower the top, and forward when I want to make the joints rigid, as required to support the top elevated.

The apertures a may also be advantageously used as port-holes for looking through the curtains, or for ventilating a closed carriage whenever desired.

I claim as my invention- An improved side curtain for folding buggy and carriage tops, having an aperture, to, and. pendent cover orfiap. b, substantially as shown and described, for the purposes specified.

' JAMES K.POWERS.

Witnesses:

A. B. GUMMINs, J. O. OUMMYINSE 

